Latin America News Roundup: 29th April 2014

29th April 2014
Indy Staff

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Cuba and the EU Begin Negotiations: Representatives from the Cuban government and the European Union will begin today the first of a round of negotiations in order to normalise relations between the island and the European bloc. The first meeting, which will extend until tomorrow, will seek to “establish a method and a roadmap for the negotiations.” The following meetings will be held alternatively in the Belgian capital of Brussels and the Cuban capital of Havana, according to European sources. Cuba is one of the few American countries that does not have a cooperation and political agreement with the EU, due to a ‘Common Position’ policy implemented by the bloc against it in 1996. In 2008, both parties made the decision to reactivate negotiations, and experts from both sides have already met to exchange information on economic and trade issues, ahead of today’s meeting. Miguel Ángel Martínez, vice-president of the European Parliament, has stated that European governments are now better predisposed to normalising relations with the island, something that, he said, will benefit both Europe and Cuba. The EU ambassador in Havana, Herman Portocarrero, said that these talks will help “update the Cuban socio-economic model.”

Brazil – New Protests in Rio de Janeiro: Roads were blocked and a Pacifying Police (UPP) station was attacked as residents of a favela protested the death of woman yesterday. The 71-year old woman was killed at the Alemão favela on Sunday as she was walking home with her ten-year old grandson, after getting caught in a shootout between police and drug traffickers, according to the Rio Military Police. Residents of the favela reacted by blocking off roads and setting objects on fire, whilst two young men were arrested for attempting to set a bus alight.

Also in Rio de Janeiro, residents of the Morro de Chapadao protested the death of a 17-year old boy by setting five buses on fire, after making the passengers descend. The boy was also killed in a shootout between police and drug killers, though in this case the police have informed that the victim allegedly had links with drug dealing gangs. These are the latest in a series of protests sparked by incidents with the police, just weeks before the beginning of the football World Cup.